High-voltage regulator



Feb. 12, 1952 J. PRlEDlGKElT HIGH-VOLTAGE. REGULATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1948 a INVENTOR. Jomv PRIEDIGKE/T' ATTORNEY to the secondterminal I6 of the- Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES.-

PATENT 0F F ICE appnc gqiua ua iz, 19518, Serial-No..1,f709;

his: nv ntion. reiatesf c a. regulator. ircuit,

and .more particularly-to ahighzvol-tagelzegulator circuit. the output oolaritxq whichmay. heee g. ily reversed.

Many types of regulator. circuits havebeen. developed; however,,for cet n ntypesofjelectrical' pplications. it. is required, tohave ahlgh. voltage eeulator which. sstable. o er. a. a e ran e. o load conditions. To. achieye. his. the, present. nv nt on. qucncy. o pl ngn. combination with an. am leer tQTcon wL he ration of..a reg ato u e nopposition o flu tuations withintheload c. rcuit... Eurthen. the invention, has, been, desi ned. so that a few minor, changes nfthe circuitv can. ben ade to reversethe.polarityr.the regulation.

Itis. theretore. an. object; of, t invention to.

worlds. anew. n m ci 111 1 l afi l later,

Another. objectof. the invention. s, to. prov de ah eh ltaee. re ulator. having stable-operation. over a, large range of loa conditio s.

Ajurther object of this invention istoprovide a radio frequency circuit. coupledtoan amplifier adapted to-control the operation of a.- regulatortubecircuit in a desired manner.

A still further object of thisinvention is .to. provide a high voltage regulator. the output polarity. of which is. easily. reversed.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention. will be apparent in the following descriptionand. claims considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which A schematic wiring diagram ofithe inventionis the sole figure thereof.

Referring to the drawingv in detail. there is shown a pentode type tube IL. The controlgrid of-thistube H is connect d to agroundedterminal I2 of a direct current source I3 through a re sistor I4. The-cathode of the tube-I1 'isconnected pass condenser I-I isconnected between the two terminals l2 and I6 of thesource I3: Other-connections of the tube I I'are: the suppressor grid is" connected tothe cathode throug -llne 9; the. screen grid is connected to the cathode through a by-pass condenser I8 and-to adroppingresistor I9, and the anode'is connected to adropping resistor 2|. The anode of thetube II is further connected'to the-third-grid of apentagrid mixer type tube 22. Other connections of the tube 22. are: the fifth grid-is connected through 1ine-8;t'o the cathode which is connected to the terminal I6= through a by-pass oondenser'23 the-jourtl'r grid-'isconnected to-t-hesecond grid 'which-i'sconl claiins.

h s een. devised; mn oy net ic e 4 source I3; A by-j nectedtq adrppping resistor. 24, the first gridis. connected toacoupling condenser. 26 and, to an. induct l j andthe anode is connected toan inductance 212.. 'Iihecondenser 26. iswconnectedto, 5' the variable portionpi a variable inductance. wh s onnec edat. one endtathe ancde f an. oscillator tube 31 through, a coupling. condenser, 32. andattheotner end is. couriectedto. the. erm l. I 6 hro h ne A. ar ab ec denser,

1o 33 is connected in. parallel. with. the. nductan 29; Th y anode 0f .the tube 3 I isconnectedtoan. inductance he athode 11 18 nbeis onnetted e h e mi a The ontrolridis connected to a resistor 36 whichisinturnconl5"'nected to the cathode A series connected cone denser 37 and inductance 38 are connected in, parallel with the resistor 36 Also shown is a source 39 of direct current used tosupnly operating voltages to the tubes II, 22. and 3|. Five resistors 4I', 42', 43,- 44; and 46 form a voltage divider and are connected in series across the direct current source 39. The junction between the source 39'and theresistor M is connected to the terminal I 6'throug'h line 6. The junction of the-resistors 4| and42 'i's connected to the inductance 27! The common connection between the resistors 4% and 43 isconnected to the resistor I9, to inductance 34 and to the cathode of the tube 22. The junctionbetween the resistor 43 and 44 is connected'tothe resistor 2I. A final connection. of the voltage divider is made from the junctionv between the resistor 46 and the source 39.to the resistance M andtheinduCtanCe 28, The anode OfthetubeZZ is also connected to acoupling. condenser. 47 which couples the output of the tube to a tan: circuit comprising a parallel connectedvariable condenser 48 and inductance lilwhich, n urn. isconnected to-the terminal l6. m

An inductance. 5|. islilacedinproximityi with,

the inductance 49' so that, there. i an. inductive.-

transfer of energy between them. One end. ofthis inductance 5| is connected to. the. junction. between two resistors 52 and. 53 of. a, resistance.

voltage divider and the other end is connected to the control grid oi. a pentqde. tyne, amplifier. tube 54 and to a variable condenser. 56.. A. by. pass condenser; 51 is connected between. the .jnnc-. tion of the resistors 52 and 5.3 andthe condenser,

5 56. There is also a common connections between.

the condenser 55, and the C0117. denser 51 and this junction is. connectedto the cathode of the tube 54 throughline 5.. Further e ons or; thi ube ar e. uppr ssor. gridis connected to the cathode through line 4,

the screen grid is connected to a by-pass condenser 58 and to the adjustable portion of a potentiometer 59, and the anode is connected to an inductance 6| and to a coupling condenser 62. The condenser 58 is further connected to the cathode of the tube 54. The coupling condenser 82 is connected to the cathode of a diode type detector tube 63 which is also connected to a tank circuit comprising a parallel connected variable condenser 64 and fixed inductance 66. The anode of the tube 63 is connected to a resistor 61 and to the control grid of a triode type driver tube 68. The tubes 54, 63, and 68 are furnished operating voltages by a direct current source 69 and an alternating current source H in the following manner. The positive terminal 12 of the source 69 is connected to one side of the potentiometer 59, to the anode of the tube 68 through a drooping resistor 13, and to the anode of'the tube 54 through the inductance 6|. The neutral terminal 14 of the source69 is connected to the other side of the potentiometer 59 and to the cathode of the tube 54. The terminals of the source H are connected to opposite ends of the primary winding of a transformer 16. This transformer 16 has two secondary windings I1 and 18, the former of which is center tapped. The end terminals of the secondary winding 11 are connected to the anode leads of a double diode rectifier type tube 19 and the end terminals of the other secondary winding I8 are-connected to the heater type cathode'of this tube. The center tan of the secondary winding I1 forms the negative terminal of a full wave rectified voltage, the positive side of which is taken from the cathode of the tube 19. This voltage is then filtered through a filter network comprising a condenser 8|, an inductance 82, and a condenser 83. The output of the filter network is then connected across a bleeder resistor 84. The positive side of the voltage across this resistor 84 is then connected to the negative terminal 86 of the source 69, to the cathode of the tube '68, and to the resistor 53. The negative side of the voltage across the resistor 84 is connected to the resistor 61 and to the tank circuit comprising the variable condenser 64 and fixed inductance 68. The anode of the tube 68 is further connected to the control grid of a triode type regulator tube 81 and to the cathode of the tube 54 through a resistor 88. The cathode of the tube 81 is also connected to the cathode of the tube 54 and is further connected to a terminal 89. The anode of this tube 8! is connected to a terminal 9| and to a resistor 92 which is connected to the control grid of the tube H.

Now consider the normal operation of the in vention with the sources I3, 89. 69, and H properly energized and with no external connections made to the terminals 89 and 9|. Under these circumstances there will be no current flowing through the tube 81. and therefore no voltage drop across the resistor l4 because of load voltage. The source |3 maintains the control grid of t e tube II at a positive voltage with respect to the cathode and the tube will conduct at a maximum rate. The voltage of the anode of this tube I will be at a low positive value and will bias the third grid of the mixer tube 22 accordingly. The tube 3| and its associated circuits comprise a blocking oscillator which generates a radio frequency signal in the tank circuit of the anode. A portion of the radio frequency signal is impressed on the first grid of the tube 22. The o l?- put of the tube 22 as developed in the tank circuit connected to the anode is then a radio frequency voltage, the magnitude of which is controlled both by the position of the take-ofi point on the inductance 29 and the input voltage from the anode of the tube H. The radio frequency voltage is then inductively transferred between the inductances 49 and 5|. Since the inductance 5| is a portion of a tank circuit in the control grid circuit of the amplifier tube 54, the radio frequency voltage is amplified through the tube. The radio frequency voltage at the anode of the tube 54 is impressed on the cathode of the detector diode tube 63 which is normally biased negatively through a tank circuit to increase its sensitivity. This tube 63 is so connected that it will conduct only during the time the cathode is more negative than the anode; therefore, the output voltage-developed across the resistor 61 is unidirectional and biases the control grid of the tube 68 positively. The control grid of the tube 81 is connected to the anode of the tube 68 and therefore is positively biased. Thus the tube 81 will be conductive w-hen connected in series with a device 93 to be regulated by means of the terminals 9| and 89, respectively.

When these latter connections have been made, current flows through the tube 81 and a voltage, equal to the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated, appears across the resistors 92 and M. The voltage across the resistor M, a portion of the total voltage, is thus negatively impressed on the control grid of the tube ll, causing the current flowing through the tube to decrease. The anode voltage of the tube thereby increases and results in a more positive voltage being applied to the third grid of the tube 22. Thus, the amplitude of the radio frequency signal output of the tube 22 is increased. Since the output of the tube 22 is inductively coupled to the control grid of the tube 54, the increased radio fre-' quency voltage is amplified and impressed on the cathode of the detector tube 63. This results in an increased positive rectified voltage being applied to the control grid of the driver tube 68. The tube 68 then conducts more heavily, resulting in a decrease of voltage at the anode. The voltage impressed at the control grid of the tube 81 is thereby decreased and the current flowing through the tube is reduced thereby. The foregoing describes the action of the circuit until the current flowing through the device 93 to be regulated adjusts the voltage across the device 93 until such voltage reaches an equilibrium value as determined by the value of the voltage of the source l3.

Now with the equilibrium value of the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated established, consider the effect of an increase in the voltage across the device'93 to be regulated. The action of the circuit will be similar to that outlined above for the initial connection of the device 93 to be regulated to the terminals 89 and 9|; that is, the voltage drop across the resistor M increases and this voltage increase is translated through the circuit to decrease the bias of the control grid of the regulator tube 81, whereby the current flowing through the tube 81 is decreased until the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated is reduced to the equilibrium value.

A decrease in the value of the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated results in a decrease. in the voltage drop across the resistor l4 and. raises the bias of the control grid of the tube H. The conductivity of the tube H. is then increased and the anode voltage is decreased. This voltage decrease is connected to the third grid of the tube 22 where it results in a decreasein the radio frequency output, of. thetube. Thus. the radio frequency voltage inductively coupled to the control grid-of the tube 54 is reduced. This-means:

ductivity of the tube 81, whereby the voltageacross the device 83 to be regulated is returned to the equilibrium value.

In order to reverse the polarity of the output the following changes and corrections must be made:

1. The regulator tube 81 is reversed so that the anode is connected to the terminal 89 and the cathode to the terminal 9|.

2. The source H is removed from the circuit, thereby removing the negative bias applied to the control grid of the tube 68 and to the cathode of the tube 63.

3. The connections of the tube 63 are reversed.

4. The polarity of the source [3 is reversed so that the control grid of the tube H is normally biased negatively with respect to the cathode.

With these changes accomplished, a rise in the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated results in a positive signal being applied to the control grid of the tube H and consequently a negative signal to the third grid of the tube 22, thereby reducing the amplitude of the radio frequency output voltage of the tube 22. The reduced radio frequency voltage is inductively coupled to the control grid of the tube 54 where it is amplified and then impressed on the anode of the detector tube 63. connected that it conducts only during the time the anode is more positive than the cathode, a decreased rectified voltage is applied negatively to the control grid of the driver type tube 68. This tube 68 then conducts more heavily and decreases the positive control grid bias of the tube 81. Thus the conductance of the regulator tube 81 is decreased and the voltage across the device 83 to be regulated is returned to a predetermined equilibrium value.

Similarly, a reduction in the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated results in a decrease in the positive signal being applied to the control grid of the tube H and consequently a positive signal to the third grid of the tube 22, thereby increasing the amplitude of the radio frequency output of the tube 22. The increased radio fre quency voltage is inductively coupled to the control grid of the tube 54 where it is amplified and impressed on the anode of the detector tube 63. Since the output voltage oi the tube 63 is impressed on the control grid of the tube 68, this control grid becomes more negative and decreases the conductivity of the tube 68, thereby raising its anode voltage which is connected to the control grid of the regulator tube 81. The increase in the control grid bias of the tube 81 causes the tube to conduct more heavily, thereby restoring the value of the voltage across the device 93 to be regulated to the predetermined equilibrium value.

It is to be noted that the coupling between the inductances 49 and 5| can be accomplished by means of a condenser connected from the condenser to the control grid of the tube 54. The primary requisite is to insulate the two sections Since the tube 63 is so 01; the circuit from each other, since the section, nelu inathe-t b afi.15.3 ii- 81. real he high'volta'ge-of the; load. While the section in, cluding the, tubes 11,,31, andg22 are..at,the relaivclylbw.voltageof thesourcew. 7

While; the, salient features. of this, invention na l-been. described with. respect .to one embodiment. it..wil.L ,Q f, course, be apparentthat numerous mddificationsniaybemade within the spirit ailifscopeof. thisinventionand it is therefore not; desired to' l imit the.'invention to the exact details shown, except insofar as they may be de: finedfin-therollewingrclaims.

What is'claimed is:

1. In a regulating circuit, the combination comprising a regulator tube in series with a device to be regulated, a direct current amplifier having an input and an output, a power supply source of unidirectional voltage connected to said amplifier input for establishing a predetermined output voltage, an oscillator for developing a high frequency voltage, means for controlling the amplitude of said high frequency voltage with said amplifier output voltage, a radio frequency amplifier having an input and an output, inductive transfer means connected between said controlling means and said radiofrequency amplifier input for establishing a predetermined output voltage, rectifier means connected to said radiofrequency amplifier output for converting said output voltage into a unidirectional voltage, means connected between said rectifier and regulator tube for establishing a predetermined positive bias for said regulator tube, and voltage di vider means connected in parallel with said device to be regulated, a portion of said voltage divider being connected in said direct current amplifier input circuit.

2. In a regulating circuit, the combination comprising a re ulator tube in series with a device to be regulated, a direct current amplifier having an innut and an output, a power supply source of unidirectional voltage connected to said amplifier input for establishing a predetermined output voltage, an oscillator for developing a high frequency voltage, means for controlling the amplitude of said high frequency voltage with said amplifier output voltage, a re tifier circuit, inductive means for coupling said hi h frequency voltage to said rectifier, means connecting the output of said rectifier circuit to said regulator tube, and means for impressing a fraction of the voltage across said device to be regulated upon the input to said direct current amplifier.

3. In a regulating circuit, the combination comprising a regulator tube in series with a load across a supply of load voltage, a power supply source of voltage, means connected to said load and said source for establishin a combined voltage of a portion of said load voltage and said source voltage, a generator for developing a high frequency voltage, means for varying the amplitude of said high frequency voltage in response to said combined voltage to establish a modulated voltage, a rectifier circuit, means for coupling said modulated voltage to said rectifier circuit for developin a rectified voltage, and means for controlling conduction of said regulator tube in response to said rectified voltage.

4. In a regulating circuit, the combination comprising a regulator tube in series with a load connected across a, supply of load voltage, a power supply source of voltage, an amplifier, means for biasing said amplifier with a combined voltage developed by adding a portion of said load voltage to the voltage of said source, an oscillator for developing a high frequency voltage, means for varying said high frequency voltage in response to said combined voltage at the output of said amplifier to develop a modulated high frequency voltage, a. second amplifier, means for coupling said modulated high frequency voltage to said second amplifier, a rectifier, means for connecting the output of said second amplifier to said rectifier, and means for biasing said regulator tube with the output voltage of said rectiher.

7 JOHN PRIEDIGKEIT.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordln the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Publication, Physical Review, September 15,

1947, vol. 72, page 529, Abstract C12 by Pepinsky et a1. 

